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2nd plane to land on freeway in two days
July 23, 2012 (Escondido) – A 1968 Piper airplane made an emergency landing on I-15 just north of El Norte Road at 11:25 p.m. last night after running out of fuel. Moments later, it was struck by a pickup truck, the California Highway Patrol reports.
Ken Gheysar, 48, of Orange, California was flying the Piper from Mammoth to Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, alone with four family members, when he made the emergency landing last night. Since traffic was light at that hour, he was able to land safely and make it to the right shoulder of the freeway just north of El Norte Rd.
“Shortly after landing on the freeway, a 1995 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by 74 year old Milton Loy from Poway was traveling in the #4 lane and collided into the left wing of the airplane which was sticking out in the lane,” CHP officer Jim Betterncourt reports. “Fortunately only minor collision damage occurred to the truck and he was able to drive away from the scene uninjured.”
All occupants in the plane were able to exit the plane safely and uninjured. The FAA and NTSB have been notified.
The airplane was able to be pushed to the right shoulder and will remain on the right shoulder until it is determined how to safely remove it.
Just one day earlier, a home-made plane with engine problems made an emergency landing on Highway 67 in Santee, near Gillespie Field.
The incidents highlight issues raised by neighbors near Gillespie Field, who have voiced concerns over potential safety to area residents from an airport expansion just approved by County Supervisors that will allow more flights and flight training to occur in the vicinity.
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